2018Healthiest State Annual Walk
SchoolCommunications Toolkit
Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa
Silver Sponsor
In partnership with
Thanks for organizing a Healthiest State Annual Walk!
The Healthiest State Annual Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, is a great step in promoting health and wellness at your school.
The Healthiest State Initiative is excited to partner with Live Healthy Iowa Kids and Hy-Vee KidsFit® for the Annual Walk in hopes of engaging as many schools as possible.
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to communicate the walk to administration, teachers, students and parents. This kit includes communications templates for you to modify to fit your needs. The bolded statements can be adjusted to customize these communications for your school’s walk.
Included in this kit:
- Steps to organizing a walk
- Tips for a successful walk
- Letter to parentsfrom school leader
- Email containing walk logistics
- Day-before reminder email
- Informational blurb about the Healthiest State Annual Walk
Resources such as PDFs for posters, social media posts, tips for creating involvement and other promotional/organizational materials are also provided within the Resources page.
HOW TO REQUEST A HY-VEE KIDSFIT® SCHOOL ASSEMBLY: KidsFit® promotes healthy lifestyles for kids and families through online video tutorials, fitness workbooks, Hy-Vee dietitian blogs and fun fitness challenges. Led by Hy-Vee KidsFit® certified personal trainer, DairaDriftmier, workouts and activities require no equipment or gym memberships, making it accessible year-round to people of all ages and skill levels.Participants can take the 5-week challenge to earn virtual trophies and badges. Visit
Steps to organizing aHealthiest State Annual Walk
- Designate a walk coordinator.This can be a teacher, principal, staff member, PTO/PTA member, classroom parent or community volunteer.
- Plan logistics for your 30-minute walk.
This may include:
- Date and time of the walk (Week of October 2- 6)
- Choose a safe and easily accessible route for teachers, students and staff (A few things to consider: road closures, railroad tracks,walkability of path.)
- Answer these questions: Is this a community walk or school only? Are parents invited? Will it be a school-wide walk or by classroom?
- Register your walk.Visit:
- Start promoting the walk!Creating excitement, invite participants and utilize the resources in this toolkit.
Tips for a successful Healthiest State Annual Walk
Adapted from the National Center for Safe Routes to School
Tip 1: Start small
You can always build on your successes with more components next year. Or, if the school is enthusiastic and partners are ready to help, aim high and follow up with other promotional materials and planned activities.
Tip 2: Plan early (if you can)
When time is on your side, start planning as early as you can.
Tip 3: Get the principal on board
Get the principal’s approval before moving forward on tasks. Approach the principal with an outline of your ideas for the event as early as possible. While at minimum the principal’s approval is needed, he or she can also be what makes the event really shine.
Tip 4: Recruit help
There’s no need to organize the walk alone. Don’t try to plan and carry out the event all by yourself. Recruit other adults and students to help.
Tip 5:Include all students
Include everyone at the school.Explore ways to participate(missing link?) and learn about how toprovide access for all students.
Tip 6: Provide incentives (if you can)
Give out incentive items or tokens if possible. Print stickers and certificates, or order prizes such as pencils, badges or reflective gear.
Tip 7: Communicate with parents
Communicate with parents early and often about the event. Distribute flyers two weeks before the event, and send out reminders the week and day before the event. Include your contact information in the promotional materials in case parents have questions or concerns. Intercom announcements are another good way to get the word out.
Tip 8: Spread the word
Get the word out beyond the school. Promote the walk to the community, elected officials and students. Think strategically. For example, if speeding is a problem, you may want to involve local law enforcement.
Letter to Parents
May be sent by principal, nurse, PE teacher, guidance counselor, etc.
Get ready to walk, [SCHOOL NAME]!
Nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people in the United States has obesity. Physical activity is one of the most important things all Iowa kids can do to improve their health – and walking is a great way to get moving.
Since 2011, hundreds of thousands of Iowans have taken part in the Healthiest State Annual Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa. This October, Iowans will again participate in this event with the goal of having at least one organized walk in all 99 counties. I’m pleased to announce that this statewide effort will include [SCHOOL NAME]!
The event’s slogan “Walk More. Connect More.” encourages participants to walk with others, like your classmates and teachers. That’s why [SCHOOL] will host a 30-minute school-wide walk on [DATE] at [TIME] starting at [INSERT LOCATION INFO].
The Annual Walk is a great way to promote wellness and support Iowa’s goal of becoming the healthiest state in the nation. Our participation shows that [SCHOOL] is invested in the well-being of our students, faculty and staff. I invite you to join us as we take steps together towards the goal of becoming a healthier community and state!
The event also serves as a kick-off to Healthiest State Month, happening throughout October, encouraging Iowans to “Live 5-2-1-0” and reminding them that “Healthy Choices Count!” To learn more about the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count at
The Healthiest State is encouraging Iowans to participate on social media with the hashtags #GetYourWalkOn2018 during the Annual Walk and #WalkMoreConnectMore year-round. Additionally, enter contests on Facebook ( for individuals, communities, and schools. There are great prizes, including an opportunity for one community to win $1,000!
[INSERT INFORMATION IF YOUR SCHOOL IS PARTICIPATING IN THE MASCOT CHALLENGE.]
I hope you’ll join us in walking for 30 minutes at [TIME] on [DATE]. Visit to learn more about the Healthiest State Initiative, and stay tuned for more information on our walk. Together we can do something great for our students!
[SIGNATURE]
[Title]
First Email Announcement
SUBJECT: Get Your Walk On with the Healthiest State Annual Walk
Nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people in the United States has obesity. Physical activity is one of the most important things all Iowans can do to improve their health – and walking is a great way to get moving.
TheIowa Healthiest State Annual Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, asks Iowans to walk for 30 minutes each day. [SCHOOL NAME]is joining the effort on [DATE]!
[SCHOOL] JOINS HEALTHIEST STATE ANNUAL WALK
When: [DATE]
Where: [LOCATION]
Time: [TIME]
Details: The walk will be approximately 30 minutes. [OPTIONAL: Parents are invited. They should arrive at [TIME].]
Additionally, the Healthiest State Initiative is encouraging Iowans to participate in their social media contests for individuals, communities and schools. Follow the Healthiest State Initiative on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to learn more about how you can help your community win $1,000!
[INSERT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF YOUR SCHOOL IS PARTICIPATING IN THE MASCOT CHALLENGE.]
We look forward to seeing you there!Be sure to share pictures of your walk on social media using #GetYourWalkOn2018. With your support, we can achieve the Healthiest State’s goal of Iowa becoming the healthiest state in the nation!
Day Before Walk – Reminder Email Announcement
SUBJECT: The Healthiest State Annual Walk is here!
Just a reminder that students will participate in the Healthiest State Initiative’s Annual Walk tomorrow! Make sure they wear a good pair of walking shoes. [SCHOOL] will join thousands of Iowans participating in 30 minute walks across the state!
The walk will begin at [TIME] and will end approximately 30 minutes later. We will walk around [LOCATION].[OPTIONAL: We invite parents to join us for the walk and suggest that they arrive at [TIME].]
We can’t wait to take steps together towards becoming a healthier school!
Blurb about Healthiest State Annual Walk
**PLUG THIS INFORMATION INTO ANY OF YOUR SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS**
The Healthiest State Annual Walk, presented by Delta Dental of Iowa, will be held on Wednesday, October 3. Since 2011, the Healthiest State Initiative has engaged hundreds of thousands of Iowans in schools, worksites and communities across the state to walk for 30 minutes. The goal of this year’s event is to have walks organized and registered in all 99 counties of Iowa.
The event’s slogan “Walk More. Connect More.” encourages participants to walk with a neighbor, friend, co-worker or family members. Another way to connect with other Iowans is through social media, using the hashtags #GetYourWalkOn2018 and #WalkMoreConnectMore.
The Annual Walk also serves as a kick-off to Healthiest State Month, happening throughout October, encouraging Iowans to “Live 5-2-1-0” and reminding them that “Healthy Choices Count!” To learn more about 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count, visit
The Healthiest State Initiative invites all Iowans to take this first step in building a healthier lifestyle and hopes that you will make walking 30 minutes part of your everyday routine.
ABOUT THE HEALTHIEST STATE INITIATIVE:The Healthiest State Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization driven by the goal to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. By engaging worksites, communities, schools, retail food, organizations, institutions and individuals, we can inspire Iowans and their communities to improve their health and happiness, and ultimately achieve our goal. For more information, visit
Presented by Delta Dental of Iowa
#GetYourWalkOn2018
#WalkMoreConnectMore